Poor Farnborough bit his lip. 'Well, in these democratic days, you're obliged (I should _think_), to consider----' In his baulked and snubbed condition he turned to Miss Dunbarton for countenance. 'I hope you'll forgive my bursting in like this, but'--he gathered courage as he caught a glimpse of her averted face--'I can see you realize the gravity of the situation.' He found her in the embrasure of the window, and went on with an air of speaking for her ear alone. 'My excuse for being so officious--you see it isn't as if he were going to be a mere private member. Everybody knows he'll be in the Cabinet.' 'It may be a Liberal Cabinet,' came from Stonor at his dryest. Farnborough leapt back into the fray. 'Nobody thought so up to last night. Why, even your brother----' he brought up short. 'But I'm afraid I'm really seeming rather _too_----' He took up his hat. 'What about my brother?' 'Oh, only that I went from your house to the club, you know--and I met Lord Windlesham as I rushed up the Carlton steps.' 'Well?' 'I told him the Dutfield news.' Stonor turned sharply round. His face was much more interested than any of his words had been. As though in the silence, Stonor had asked a question, Farnborough produced the answer. 'Your brother said it only confirmed his fears.' 'Said that, did he?' Stonor spoke half under his breath. 'Yes. Defeat is inevitable, he thinks, unless----' Farnborough waited, intently watching the big figure that had begun pacing back and forth. It paused, but no word came, even the eyes were not raised. 'Unless,' Farnborough went on, 'you can manufacture some political dynamite within the next few hours. Those were his words.' As Stonor resumed his walk he raised his head and caught sight of Jean's face. He stopped short directly in front of her. 'You are very tired,' he said. 'No, no.' She turned again to the window. 'I'm obliged to you for troubling about this,' he said, offering Farnborough his hand with the air of civilly dismissing him. 'I'll see what can be done.' Farnborough caught up the reply-paid form from the table. 'If you'd like to wire I'll take it.' Faintly amused at this summary view of large complexities, 'You don't understand, my young friend,' he said, not unkindly. 'Moves of this sort are not rushed at by responsible politicians. I must have time for consideration.' Farnborough's face fell. 'Oh. Well, I only hope some one else won't jump into the breach before you.' With his watch in one hand, he held out the other to Miss Dunbarton. 'Good-bye. I'll just go and find out what time the newspapers go to press on Sunday. I'll be at the Club,' he threw over his shoulder, 'just in case I can be of any use.' 'No; don't do that. If I should have anything new to say----' 'B-b-but with our party, as your brother said, "heading straight for a vast electoral disaster," and the Liberals----' 'If I decide on a counter-blast, I shall simply telegraph to headquarters. Good-bye.'